If I could start a company that I believe would transform the way we think about food waste, and about how we conduct business it would be called “No human left behind”. What small business, or restaurant wouldn’t want to be part of an organization that helps create a greener world? Food waste is one of the easiest problems to tackle when it comes to trash. Most restaurants throw away food products that are perfectly eatable because of policies set by the restaurant industry and the government. Finding the right shelters, soup kitchens, churches, and communities should just be an app away in the 2020’s shouldn’t it? That’s why I am proposing an app for this company I would put together if the stars aligned (and time permitted).
To start things off, I researched various sources from different formats from websites, to blogs and videos/film. I wanted to understand the subject matter and see if there is a pocket in which this company can inhabit in this specific industry as well as a competitive analysis of those companies that are already established and if they are direct competition, or if they are doing their own thing. The main topics of research were:
- The science
- The political aspect
- Current redistribution methods
- Current competitive analysis
- The root causes
- Potential solutions
From that I created a first draft of an annotated bibliography to back up my sources, which I would need to finalize my proposal for the company/app project. The app is the main part of this business, without the coordination and payment system this app provides, this business model of a for profit food redistribution program might not catch on. Humans, especially on this side of the world are driven by one thing, and one thing only: Money. That is why I decided that this company should be for profit. Why not make money while helping your local community, and on top of that, enticing local businesses to get on board while being promoted by “No Human Left Behind”? It’s a win-win, and a concept that some start-ups are betting on while still taking the non-profit route.
About No Human Left Behind
The concept of this project is to create a platform that serves as a for-profit delivery service whose main goal is to offer restaurants, and other food-based businesses to take their excess food and supplies on a daily basis to homeless shelters. This also includes groups that support, house, and feed the homeless Such as “The Atlanta Children’s Shelter”. Most businesses in our country cater to everyone and everything except the most vulnerable. It seems that there is either lack of knowledge about food donation programs, or hesitation to donate. This company would make a profit in order to expand but would be serving the homeless and less fortunate community directly.
Part of the expansion is changing the business model to including the development of entire communities to those trying to better their lives and get off the street. The company would hire promising homeless individuals as well to help coordinate the efforts, giving them a stable job and a way out of homelessness while helping others as well. Another extension to this idea is to become an active recruiter for companies willing to partner with us to help find people work. There is a big need for a company like this, and if successful, maybe an entire industry can be created. From 2016 to 2017, homelessness increased at the national level by almost 1%. The biggest increase was with children who were unaccompanied, and young adults. When it comes to the differences in homelessness there has been changes in the last few years, 14.3% are part of the long term homeless and are the highest percentage, while 12.2% are homeless without shelter (9.4% increase). (National Alliance to End Homelessness). This particular issue continues to haunt society, and the client thinks they can fill a niche and help people at the same time.
Sources
Works Cited
“The State of Homelessness in America.” National Alliance to End Homelessness. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Aug. 2018.
Paynter, Ben. “This App Delivers Leftover Food To The Hungry, Instead Of To The Trash.” Fast Company, Fast Company, 3 May 2018, www.fastcompany.com/40562448/this-app-delivers-leftover-food-to-the- hungry-instead-of-the-trash.
“Homepage.” Food Well Alliance, www.foodwellalliance.org/.
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